Watch: Latest recipients of the Letisha & Charlene awards

THE doctors, community workers and beauty therapists of tomorrow were given a financial boost after becoming the latest recipients of an award scheme set up in memory of two murdered Birmingham teenagers.

THE doctors, community workers and beauty therapists of tomorrow were given a financial boost after becoming the latest recipients of an award scheme set up in memory of two murdered Birmingham teenagers.

Half a dozen awards totalling a little more than £2,400, were handed out to deserving applicants, aged from 16 to 56, which will be used to help them in their studies.

The Letisha & Charlene Education Awards were established in memory of Charlene Ellis and Letisha Shakespeare, who were the innocent victims of a drive-by shooting in January 2003.

The project is run by the families of the girls, backed by the Birmingham Mail and its charity trust and administered through Birmingham and Black Country Community Foundation.

Since then around 100 students have benefited from £80k worth of either cash or computers.

All the winners said the money was a godsend in the current tough financial climate and would be spent on paying for travelling expenses, course fees, studying equipment, books, courses, uniforms and laptops.

Andy Richards, chairman of the scheme and the Mail’s head of news, said: “We are trying to make awards to responsible people.

“Everyone who has won an award is a living memorial to the girls who lost their lives.

“There are many good people who are trying hard to get ahead in life, people who have a real desire to get on in life and put something back into the community.”

n Grandmother Zetna Robinson, aged 56, from Hockley, who is aiming to become an advice worker, said she would use the money to a laptop as she studies towards a degree at Staffordshire University.

“It’s hard going back to school but good. My family are very supportive. I want to move into advice work when I graduate.

“It doesn’t matter how old you are, you can still do it, ” she said.

* Keele University medical student Amari Thompson, aged 21, from Quinton, said he would be spending the money on course equipment.

“I will use the money to buy a load of medical books, revision materials, go on a revision course and go on a first aid course for sports course.

“I want to be an orthopaedic surgeon and hopefully, I want to go back to the QE as they get all the exciting stuff.”

* Sinead Graham, 20, from Yardley, who is studying towards a NVQ in beauty therapy, said: “This money will help me to buy the equipment I need to study, like a laptop and the uniform.

“All my studies are online and because I don’t have a laptop, I have to go to the library. I don’t have to rely on library opening times anymore.”